“They probably wouldn’t have been together,” I replied confidently.
“What makes you say that?”
I giggled. “Because if he’s out there burning the world down behind her, he’s either going to prison, or he’s going to be killed. Either way, he would have had a target on his back, and there’s no guarantee their relationship would have survived that.”
I sat back in my seat, crossed my leg over the other one, and bounced it rhythmically as I bobbed my head to the Lofi music playing through the speakers. The crowd started thinning out, and I glanced at my watch.
“You have to be somewhere else right now?”
“No. You’ve got my time and attention for a little while longer.”
His eyes sparkled, and he regarded me from a low-lashed gaze. “I’m trying to occupy all of your time in the future.”
“Oh, is that the type of time you’re on?” I asked, glad that he clarified his intention toward me.
“That’s exactly the type of time I’m on.”
“Mm. So much for being a member of the welcoming committee.”
“Definitely welcoming you to the community, beautiful.”
I smirked. “And you’ve got other things on your mind.”
“I do. What about you? You have someone out there threatening to burn the world down behind you?”
My smirk dropped. “Not hardly.”
“You should have someone out there doing exactly that and more.”
I cleared my throat. “I’m not on that type of time.” I bobbed my head to the music again.
“You like this music?”
“I do.”
“Good to know. Any other type of music you like other than Lofi?”
“Jazz and R and B. What about you?”
“Hip-hop, soul, funk, and blues. I have an eclectic mix always playing in my shop.”
“I like that. I planned to play soul and R and B Lofi all the time. Give it that coffeehouse vibe.”
“How are things coming along for you with your launch party?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Now that you’ve did whatever you did to Evan, things have been flowing smoothly. Now, back to the purpose of this meeting, . . . about that assessment . . .”
He chuckled. “You may have been right.”
“About which one? The threat or the bribe?”
“Does it matter?” He leaned across the table, and his presence wrapped me up in a warm security blanket.
“I just don’t want it to come back and bite me.”
“Trust me, it won’t. You’re completely safe.”
“Why did you do whatever you did?”
